chapel
gb/t͡ʃˈæpəl/ us/t͡ʃˈæpəl/
B1
English
~ 6700
kápolna, oldalkápolna, kápolnai istentisztelet, áhítat, munkahelyi szakszervezeti csoport, szakszervezeti alapszervezet
NOUN
B1
1
kápolna
B1
Usage pattern:
a chapel in [a larger building]
There’s a small chapel at the back of the hospital where families can sit quietly and pray.
A kórház hátsó részében van egy kis kápolna, ahol a hozzátartozók csendben leülhetnek és imádkozhatnak.
They were married in a little stone chapel overlooking the lake.
A tóra néző kis kőkápolnában házasodtak össze.
The prison chapel was full for the Sunday evening service.
Students often go to the college chapel to light a candle before exams.
An interfaith chapel is available in the airport terminal for travelers of all religions.
Learner examples
The hospital has a small chapel on the first floor.
A kórház első emeletén van egy kis kápolna.
They had their wedding in a little chapel in the mountains.
A hegyekben, egy kis kápolnában tartották az esküvőjüket.
He goes to the college chapel to pray before class.
There is a quiet chapel near the main church.
People can rest and think in the airport chapel.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use “chapel” and “church” as if they are always the same. In everyday use, a church is usually a main building for a local Christian group, while a chapel is often smaller or is a special room inside another building.
Meaning
small Christian place of worship
Collocations
small chapel
|wedding chapel
|hospital chapel
|school chapel
|prison chapel
|airport chapel
Synonyms
church (Usually refers to a main local place of worship and its community, not specifically a smaller room or attached space.)
Antonyms
secular space (Refers to a room or building with no religious purpose, the opposite of a space set aside for worship.)
Themes
religion
|buildings
Definition
A small church or a special room where Christian people pray or have services, often inside a bigger building like a school or hospital.
A small Christian church or a special room used for worship and prayer, often attached to a larger church or building such as a school, hospital, prison, or airport.
NOUN
B2
2
kápolna
B1
oldalkápolna
C1
Usage pattern:
a chapel dedicated to [a saint or person]
A small side chapel off the nave was dedicated to St. Francis.
A templomhajóból nyíló kis oldalkápolnát Szent Ferencnek szentelték.
The royal family had its own private chapel within the cathedral.
A királyi családnak saját magánkápolnája volt a székesegyházon belül.
Tourists filed quietly past the Lady Chapel at the east end of the church.
The candles in the side chapel flickered in front of the statue of the Virgin Mary.
Each family in the palace complex once maintained its own richly decorated chapel.
Learner examples
There is a side chapel inside the big cathedral.
A nagy székesegyházban van egy oldalkápolna.
The family prays in their private chapel in the church.
A család a templomban lévő magánkápolnájában imádkozik.
This small chapel in the corner is for quiet prayer.
We visited the Lady Chapel at the back of the church.
A new chapel to St. John was built inside the cathedral.
Common mistake:
Learners may think every small church building is this kind of chapel. This sense is specifically a small area within a larger church or cathedral, not a separate building.
Meaning
small worship area in church
Collocations
side chapel
|Lady Chapel
|family chapel
|private chapel
|chapel dedicated to [a saint]
Synonyms
oratory (A more formal or technical word; can mean a small private place for prayer, often used in architectural or religious descriptions.)
Antonyms
nave (The main central space of a church; contrasted with smaller separate areas like chapels.)
Themes
religion
|architecture
Definition
A special small part inside a big church that has its own altar and is used for prayer or small services.
A small area within a large church or cathedral, usually with its own altar and sometimes dedicated to a particular saint, family, or purpose.
NOUN
B2
3
Usage pattern:
[someone] goes to chapel
Attendance at morning chapel is compulsory for all first-year students.
Az elsőéves diákok számára kötelező a reggeli áhítaton való részvétel.
He was excused from chapel after speaking to the head teacher.
Miután beszélt az igazgatóval, felmentést kapott a kápolnai istentisztelet alól.
The prisoners filed into chapel in silence.
We have chapel three times a week before classes start.
She plays the organ for college chapel on Sundays.
Learner examples
The students must go to chapel every Monday.
A diákoknak minden hétfőn el kell menniük az áhítatra.
We have chapel before our first class.
Az első óránk előtt áhítat van.
He does not like chapel because it is very early.
Many prisoners sit at the back during chapel.
She sings in the choir at chapel.
Common mistake:
Learners may think “chapel” always means the building. In some schools, colleges, and prisons, people say they are “going to chapel” to mean going to the religious service, not just entering the room.
Meaning
religious service called chapel
Collocations
go to chapel
|compulsory chapel
|morning chapel
|evening chapel
|school chapel service
Synonyms
service (A general word for a religious ceremony; “chapel” in this sense is usually used in institutions and sounds more specific and informal there.)
Antonyms
free period (In a school context, a time with no class or required activity, contrasted with required chapel services.)
Themes
religion
|education
|law
Definition
A religious meeting where people pray and sing, especially in a school, college, or prison, called by the name of the chapel itself.
A religious service, especially a regular Christian service in a school, college, or prison, referred to by the name of the place where it is held.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
4
Usage pattern:
a chapel meeting to discuss [something]
The chapel voted to reject management’s latest pay offer.
A munkahelyi szakszervezeti csoport megszavazta, hogy elutasítja a vezetőség legutóbbi bérajánlatát.
As Father of the Chapel, she represented the journalists in negotiations.
A munkahelyi szakszervezeti csoport vezetőjeként ő képviselte az újságírókat a tárgyalásokon.
The newspaper’s chapel called a meeting to discuss the proposed job cuts.
He became active in the chapel soon after joining the newsroom.
The chapel and management finally reached an agreement after a long dispute.
Learner examples
The newspaper chapel met to talk about pay.
A lap munkahelyi szakszervezeti csoportja összeült, hogy a bérekről tárgyaljon.
She was chosen by the chapel to speak to the bosses.
A szakszervezeti csoport őt választotta ki, hogy beszéljen a főnökökkel.
The chapel did not agree with the new work rules.
Many workers went to the chapel meeting after work.
The chapel and the managers made a new deal.
Common mistake:
Learners may assume this meaning is religious because of the word “chapel.” In this context it is a historical trade-union term in British printing and media, and is not about religion.
Meaning
union group in printing workplace
Collocations
newspaper chapel
|chapel meeting
|Father of the Chapel
|chapel members
|chapel representative
Synonyms
union branch (A general term for a local group of trade union members; “chapel” is a specialized term used mainly in British print and media contexts.)
Antonyms
management (In labor relations, the side that negotiates against the union chapel, representing company interests.)
Themes
work
|politics
|business
Definition
In British printing and newspaper work, a small group of union members in one workplace, and their local organization.
In British printing and newspaper industries, a workplace-based branch of a trade union, or the members of that branch, traditionally meeting in a ‘chapel’.
Grammar
Dictionary form
chapel
IPA
GB/t͡ʃˈæpəl/
US/t͡ʃˈæpəl/
Syllables & stress
chapel (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (chapel)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: chapel
- Plural: chapel, chapels
Word family
Expressions
college chapel
1/kˈɑlɪd͡ʒ t͡ʃˈæpəl/
fixed phrase
chapel in a college
A chapel that is part of a college or university, where students and staff can go to services or to pray.
Examples
- The choir sings in the college chapel every Sunday evening.
- She loves the quiet atmosphere of the old college chapel.
funeral chapel
1/fjˈunɚəl t͡ʃˈæpəl/
fixed phrase
room or building for funerals
A room or small building where people hold a funeral service and say goodbye to someone who has died.
Examples
- The service will be held in the funeral chapel at 2 p.m.
- Family and friends gathered in the funeral chapel to pay their last respects.
hospital chapel
1/hˈɔspˌɪtəl t͡ʃˈæpəl/
fixed phrase
chapel inside a hospital
A quiet room or small chapel in a hospital where patients and families can sit, pray, or think.
Examples
- She spent a few minutes alone in the hospital chapel before visiting her father.
- The hospital chapel is open to people of all faiths.
side chapel
1/sˈaɪd t͡ʃˈæpəl/
fixed phrase
small chapel off main church
A small part of a big church, to one side of the main area, where people can pray or have small services.
Examples
- We slipped into a quiet side chapel to light a candle.
- The painting hangs above the altar in the side chapel.
wedding chapel
1/wˈɛdɪŋ t͡ʃˈæpəl/
fixed phrase
building mainly for weddings
A small church or special building where people go to get married, often in a simple or quick ceremony.
Examples
- They got married in a tiny wedding chapel just off the Las Vegas Strip.
- The hotel has its own wedding chapel overlooking the gardens.